Vehicle rocking machine



May 11, 1937.

cc. CALKINS VEHICLE 'ROCKING- MACHINE Filed Feb. 15, 19:55

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [LAUDE 1 [AL/VH5 .May 11, 1937, l c. c..cA| K|'Ns VEHICLE ROCKING MACHINE 7 Filed Feb. '15, 1953 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 11 19 37 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE 'aocx'mo Claude C. Calkins, Spokane, Wash. 4 Application February 15,1933, Serial No. 656,941

lClaim.

My present invention relates to an improved vehicle rocking machine especially adapted for use with automotive vehicles to facilitate the operations of greasing and-lubricating, and for squeaks and other noises that indicate the need for grease or lubricant, and, of course, these parts may then readily be lubricated;

The apparatus of my present-invention is specially adapted for use at "the top of the pit that is usually found at service stations for automobiles, and the apparatus is provided with means whereby it-may quickly and conveniently be adiusted .to the width of the pit for its support, and also adjusted to automobiles having main frames of varying dimensions, in order that the apparatus may provide a solid or firm support for the In the present form of my invention, as illustrated in the drawings, I employ a pair of spaced screw jacks, or manually operated jacks, for lifting the weight of the body and frame fromthe springs of. the car, and below these jacks are located a pair of spaced, pneumatic motors, forming part of the supporting apparatus, a jack and a motor being located at each side of the longitudinal center of the automobile or car. These pneumatic motors are alternately operated to lift one side of the car while the other side is being lowered for the accomplisment of the rocking motion of the car. The operating means involved inthis invention is designed for use with the machine disclosed in my co-pending application for 5 Patent No. 638,337, flied October 18; 1932. A

an operating motor, and at a predetermined interval, the motive fluid is admitted to the servomotor. The servo-motor is then operated to acnishes the supply of air to the other operating motor. The servo-motor and the distributing ,valve thus control the supply of motive fluid to the two operating motors, and the latter are vented,

through the distributing valve, to vent or exhaust the spent power from an operating motor, thereby permitting the latter, while yet support.- ing one side of the car, to be lowered while th other side of the car is being lifted. 1 The invention consists incertain novel comblv nations and arrangements of partsas will be hereinafter more specifically set forth and claimed. In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of thephysical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to one mode I have-thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention, but it will be understood that the exemplified structure may be altered, and various changes made, within the scope ofmy claim, without departing from the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a view showing the apparatus in elevation, and showing the main frame of I a car in section, one side of the frame being raised or liftedto illustrate the tilting or rocking action ofthema'lnframeand body ofthecar; andthe view also shows the rear axle and rear wheels in usual position above the pit.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the pneumatic apparatus, with the manual screw jacks omitted for convenience of illustration.

Figure3isaperspectiveviewof oneof the operating motors, showing also the distributing valve, the power cylinder or servo-motor, and connections between these parts. 7

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional viewof the 3-way distributing valve, the ports being'ar -'ranged as inFlgure 5 to supply powerto the left hand operating motor, and to vent the right hand operating motor.

Figure 5 Ba the pneumatically operating parts of the apparatus, with arrows showing circulation of the motive fluid with power it? the left hand motor and venting the right hand motor.

Figurefiisaviewsimilarto-Figure5withthe controlling valve in reverse position, showing by the arrows, the flow of motive fluid to the servomotor and to the right hand operating motor,

operating motor. I Figure '7 is a detail sectional view, enlarged, of one of" the twovalves for controlling the servomotor or power cylinder.

:u tic viewinelevation of and showing the venting action of the, lefthand in Figure 1 the rear wheels W, the-main frame F, the rear axle A, and springs S of an automobile, the wheels resting upon angle plates P having vertical flanges P' and located at the top of the opposite walls P2 of thelusual pit, found at service stations for automobiles. It will be understood from an inspection of Figure 1 that the Frame F, and parts above the frame, are rocked laterally, for the-purpose described.

The apparatus is portable, and in the preferred form here shown, it is suspended across the top of the open pit, between the two flanges P of the plates P. For this'suspension I provide an adjustable frame comprising two slidable sections made up of parallel bars and designated respectively I, I, and 2, 2, which are slidable in the loops or sleeves 3, 3, to increase-or diminish the length of the adjustable frame, and set bolts 4 are mounted in the sleeves to hold the sections in fixed, adjusted positions.

At their ends, these sections are, provided with hooks S'adapted to overhangthe flange P' as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the left hand operating motor L and the right hand -operating motor Rare bolted to the bars at the ends of the frame to make a rigid structure of the frame.

Each operating motor is provided with a saddle 6 having a central stud 1 and end flanges 8, and a rocking beam 9, having holes near its ends that flt over the studs I, is supported on the saddles, between the flanges 8, 8, as indicated in Figure 1. The rocking beam, at its opposite ends has mounted thereon two manually onerated screw jacks I0, I 0, which include screws I I that are turned by use of the pins l2, and each screw has mounted thereon a stirrup l3 adapted to contact beneath the bars of the frame F. Thus, when the rocking beam 3 is supported in horizontal position on the saddlesof the two operating motors L and R, the handle bars. l2 of the screw jacks may be manipulated to elevate the frame F and thereby relieve the springs and wheels from the weight of the car body and frame. After the weight or load has thus been transferred to the rocking beam, the opposite ends of the beam are alternately lifted and lowered, through the action of the two operating motors Land R, to impart the swaying or rocking motion to the car body and frame.

The two motors R and L are of the reciprocating ype and each includes a vertically arranged cylinder l4 in-which the piston i5 reciprocates, and the saddles of the motors are mounted at the outer ends of the. stems I 6 of .the pistons, in order that when motive fluid, as compressed air, is admitted beneath the piston i5, thelatter is lifted, while motive fluid is vented from beneath the other piston or cylinder, to permit the second piston to descend.

In the control of the motive fluid I employ a distributing valve, indicated as a whole bythe numeral I! in Figures 5 and 6. This valve device has a casing "and inlet port l9 to which the pipe 20 is connected to supply the motive fluid as air, and in addition, the casing is provided with two main ports 2i and 22 at opposite sides thereof, and'a third port 23. The main ports 2| and 22 are connected by air pipes 24 and 25 respectively to the motor L and motor R, and the venting port 23 has a vent pipe 28 connected thereto, which is equipped with a vent valve 21, the latter valve being employed to adjust the venting action from the cylinders of the motors, below their pistons.

In Figure 5, it will be seen that motive fluid from the supply pipe 20 is passing to the motor L and motive fluid is being vented or exhausted from below, the piston of motor B.

As best seen in Figure 4 a 3-way valve 28 is journaled in the casing l8 to rock on its axis, and this valve is provided with three ports 29, 33, and 3|, of which the=angular port 23 is adapted to register with the supply port and the two main ports of the casing; the straight-away port 38 is adapted to register with the main ports and the vent port of the casing, and the radial port 3| shaft 33 of the valve, the shaft being journaled in suitable bearings of. the valve casing "l8. The free end of the lever is connected by a pair of links 34 to the head 35 that is flxed at one end of the rod 36 of the piston 31 reciprocable in the power cylinder 38 of the servo-motor, and this servo-motor, as shown, is located intermediate the two operating motors L and R, and adjacent to the distributing valve l8, both the servo-motor and the distributing yalve being supported on the adjustable suspending frame of the apparatus. Thus, it will be obvious that as the piston 31 reciprocates in its cylinder 38 under motive fluid pressure, the valve lever and valve are oscillated, and the ports of the oscillating valve alternately register with, or open and close,

tor L and the motor B. respectively, to establish communication between the lower ends of the cylinders l4 and the cylinder 38. The two pipes communicate with the interiors of the cylinders l4 through the instrumentality of two spaced ports 4| and 42, one of these ports, as 42 being located at the bottom of the cylinder below the clearance space beneath the reciprocable piston I 5, as best indicated in Figure 7.

Between the two spaced, horizontally disposed ports 4i and 42 a valve chamber 43 is located,

the upper end of which is closed by means of a in Figure 6, the motor L is being vented to the atmosphere through pipe 24, and some of,the pressure from the motor-cylinder of L has passed through, or is about to pass through pipe 39 to the servo-motor.

Each of the motors L and R is provided with one of these auxiliary valves 43, and they are spring "in the upper head ofv the alternately operated by the ascending movement of the pistons in the motors L and R.

n the top of each cylinder I4 is a valve lever 41 pivotally mounted at 48, and one end ofthis lever bears down upon the upper end of a valve pin 49 which is vertically reciprocable in a bearing 50 exterior of the cylinder l4 and also reciprocable in the screw plug 44 having ports 44 for use with the auxiliary valve 45. At its lower end the valve pin is rigidly connected with the valve 45, and the valve contacts with a rubber gasket 45' fixed at the bottom of the plug 44, so that when the lever, or rocker arm 41, is tilted on its pivot, the valve is depressed to open position.

The rocker arm 41 is retained by means of a spring latch which is pivoted at 52 at the exterior top of the cylinder l4, and a spring- 53 coiled about the pivot 52 and bearing on the top of the latch tends to depress'the free end of the latch so that .the latter engages on top of the adjoining end of the rocker arm and holds the arm in horizontal position. A tappet pin 54 is loosely connected to the pivoted latch,

and this pin extends down through an opening cylinder l4 to a predetermined distance within the cylinder and in the path of the upwardly moving piston l5 of the cylinder. It will be understood that the rocker arm 41 can never travel beyond the end of the lug on the end of the spring latch 5|, because rocker arm 41 is limited in its'movement by valve rod 49, which, in turn, is limited by the socket into which spring 46' fits. The lug must be longer than the movement of the lever 41.

A spring 55 is also attached at one end to the under face of the rocker arm, and this spring also extends down through an opening in the head of the cylinder, in the path of movement of the ascending piston l5. A small spring 55' may be employed under the lever 41 and resting on the top of the cylinder head, to act as a cushion spring for the lever. As indicated in Figures 5 and6, the spring 55 projects downwardly into the cylinder a greater distance than the tappet pin 54. Therefore, as the piston ascends it first-contacts with the lower end of the spring 55. The coiled spring 53 is stronger than the compressed spring 55, and consequently i53, through the latch, holds the rocker arm in horizontal position while the spring 55 is being compressed. Then, as the piston continues to ascend and contacts with the lower endof the tappet pin 54, the latch 5| is positively lifted, releasing the rocker arm. The compressed spring 55 now lifts one end of the rocker arm while the latter is still under control of the latch 51, with a snappin g'movement, and consequently the projecting end of the rocker arm is depressed to depress the valve pin 49 and open the valve 45. The opening of the valve 45 near the end of the upper or working stroke of the piston l5, permits a blast -of the motive.

fluid, as compressed air, from the cylinder l4 oscillating valve to the servo-motor, and the latter in Figure 5 pulls the valve lever 32 to the right.

It will be understood that the initial blast of air released by the tripping of the valve stem 49 and the opening of the valve 45 only frees a small portion of the highly compressed air under the piston 15. This accomplishes an aligning of the ports 2| and 3| of the casing 18 and the 28 respectively in order that the residue air within the piston I4 may bleed through the vent 26 and the vent valve 21 in such a manner as to slowly lower the receding piston..

In Figure 6 a similar blast of air from the motor R. pushes the valve lever to. the left, thus reversing the flow of the circulation with the motive fluid and the distributing valve. Thus, it will be apparent, the left and right hand motors arealternately served with air from the supply pipe 20, and a reciprocating action is accomplished to impart a rocking motion to the vehicle.

The supply of air to the distributing valve is controlled by a manually operated, out 01f valve 56, in Figure 2, and when this valve is opened to admit air pressure to the distributing valve, the apparatus is automatically operated as hereinbefore described, to rock orsway the vehicle.

By the operation of the machine, the car is rocked while supported on the frame F, and motion'is imparted to the car which closely resembles the movement of vibration of a traveling car as it moves over a rough surface, and it will be apparent that shackle bolts, spring leaves, and other parts of the car are thus subjected'to substantially the same movements that imparted thereto by a travelling car.

The lifting movement of the operating motors 'it will be understood is only a slight movement,

but the continuation ,of the movements at alternate sides of the car is suflicient to flex the springs S, and during this flexing movement the spray gun is employed to inject a lubricant between the leaves of the springs. The same facility of lubrication is attained at other greasing points where there are relatively movable parts, and the time required for the greasing operations,

would. be

as well as the labor required, are thus reduced. I

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

Inrocking mechanism as described, the combination with a pair of spaced operating motors each having a lifting member, of a distributing valve device having a three-way. valve therein and communicating with said motors, a servomotor communicating with said motors and auxiliary valves controlling said communication, operatfng means for said auxiliary valves comprising a spring actuated rocker arm, a springlatch for said arm and a pin on said latch in the path of movement of a lifting member, and means operated by the servo-motor for reversing the position of the three-way valve.

CLAUDE C. CALKINS. 

